Rachel Martin

Rachel Martin Profile Picture

Rachel Martin specialises in writing about agri-business, food production and dairying. Previously she worked as a business reporter at one of Northern Ireland’s biggest daily newspapers. In 2017, she was named one of IFAJ's 10 Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism. She is currently secretary of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in Northern Ireland. When she’s not writing, Rachel can usually be found in the milking parlour at home in Co. Down with her family's 130 cows.

Royal Bath & West Society cancels Dairy Show for 2020
Royal Bath & West Society cancels Dairy Show for 2020

Organisers have been forced to cancel one of England’s last hopes of an agricultural show before the end of 2020...

Germany confirms its first case of African swine fever
Germany confirms its first case of African swine fever

Germany has confirmed its first case of African swine fever (ASF) in a wild boar found dead in Brandenburg close...

Greening requirements to be scrapped in NI from 2021
Greening requirements to be scrapped in NI from 2021

Plans are afoot to scrap greening requirements in Northern Ireland, the region’s Minister of Agriculture Edwin Poots has announced today (September...

Back British Farming Day: Prime Minister and Labour leader show support for farming
Back British Farming Day: Prime Minister and Labour leader show support for farming

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer have both shown their support for British agriculture by wearing a Back...

Welsh Government commits to increasing wool in public buildings
Welsh Government commits to increasing wool in public buildings

Wales has become the first of any UK nation to formally commit to using more wool in its public buildings....

Law change needed to tackle rural crime, NFU says
Law change needed to tackle rural crime, NFU says

As the cost of rural crime continues to rise, the National Farmers Union is urging the government to take action...

Poots writes to southern counterpart over NI eligibility for Bord Bia schemes
Poots writes to southern counterpart over NI eligibility for Bord Bia schemes

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has written to his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland over concerns as to...

2020 Back British Farming Day to highlight value of UK agriculture
2020 Back British Farming Day to highlight value of UK agriculture

The National Farmers’ Union is inviting MPs and farmers up and down the country to throw their weight behind Back...

How green is NI’s energy: How much of the region’s electric is from renewable sources?
How green is NI’s energy: How much of the region’s electric is from renewable sources?

Almost half the electric used in Northern Ireland this year has been generated from renewable sources, according to new figures...

Cross-sector support for Low Carbon Agriculture Show
Cross-sector support for Low Carbon Agriculture Show

The Low Carbon Agriculture Show (LCA) has attracted cross-sector backing since announcing its launch in June. Global sustainable farming organisation...

Judging panel announced for BVA Young Vet of the Year Award
Judging panel announced for BVA Young Vet of the Year Award

The British Veterinary Association has today announced an expert panel of judges for its BVA Young Vet of the Year...

Swiss foodservice reopening gives boost to Welsh lamb exports
Swiss foodservice reopening gives boost to Welsh lamb exports

HMRC figures show UK lamb exports to Switzerland increased by over 200% in the first six months of 2020, compared to...

Cranswick’s Co. Antrim plant to reopen following 2-week closure
Cranswick’s Co. Antrim plant to reopen following 2-week closure

Cranswick Country Foods factory in Cullybackey, Co. Antrim, has reopened two weeks after authorities ordered it to close following an...

Glamorgan farmers ‘left in the dark’ over local mart
Glamorgan farmers ‘left in the dark’ over local mart

Farmers in Glamorgan still don’t know what the future holds for their local livestock mart, with fears growing that livestock...

Speyside meat plant voluntarily suspends factory processing
Speyside meat plant voluntarily suspends factory processing

A meat plant in Scotland’s north-east has has opted to temporally close its production site for the next 14 days due...

Scottish government announces £160 million investment for forestry and agriculture
Scottish government announces £160 million investment for forestry and agriculture

The Scottish government has announced an additional £160 million for forestry and agriculture in its latest Programme for Government. The...

Just 1 of NI’s 21 lakes classified as ‘good’ in latest assessment
Just 1 of NI’s 21 lakes classified as ‘good’ in latest assessment

Just one of Northern Ireland’s 21 lakes has been classified as ‘good’, according to a report released this week by the...

Major European livestock show Sommet de l’Elevage cancelled
Major European livestock show Sommet de l’Elevage cancelled

Major international livestock show, Sommet de l’Elevage (Livestock Summit), has been cancelled as French officials say they can no longer...